no title

Bats, Hamilton coming to Huntington Park

By: Jim Massie

The Columbus Dispatch - July 04, 2013 04:01 PM

The Clippers begin a three-day, four-game homestand against the Louisville Bats at 7:15 p.m.
Friday in Huntington Park.

The Bats will bring along top Cincinnati Reds prospect Billy Hamilton, currently the
biggest stolen base threat in minor-league baseball. He set the single-season, minor-league record
with 155 steals last season while playing at Class A Bakersfield and double-A Pensacola.

Hamilton, 22, has 49 steals through 76 games this season and is a threat to break the
modern International League single-season record of 94 set by former Columbus outfielder Otis
Nixon in 1983.

Nixon played in 138 games in '83. He was 24 years old that season and, like Hamilton, a
switch-hitter who had just been moved from the middle infield to center field. He was thrown
out trying to steal 29 times in '83. Hamilton has only been caught nine times this
season.

Nixon got on-base often in his record-setting season by bunting or just chopping the ball over
the head of a third baseman trying to crowd him and take away the bunts.

He also worked counts. He batted .291, walked 96 times and had an on-base percentage of .393.
Hamiton is batting .247 and has a .302 on-base percentage. He has walked 25 times. In any case, his
speed is dazzling. Hamilton scored the winning run in a game last season from second base on a
sacrifice fly caught by the second baseman.

Speed of that kind is as fun to watch as a moon shot home run.

The Clippers should have two new pitchers aboard for the Louisville series. The parent Cleveland
Indians have assigned reliever Blake Wood to a major-league rehab assignment with the Clippers. He
is coming back from 2012 Tommy John surgery and has pitched for Mahoning Valley, Lake County and
Akron so far this season for a total of 9.2 innings in 11 games. Nick Hagadone also is back in the
bullpen after being optioned by the Indians.

Scott Barnes went to the 7-day disabled list today in Toledo.

The opener of the series on Friday has Daniel Corcino (4-10, 6.57 ERA) pitching for the Bats
against a To-Be-Determined for the Clippers.

The two teams play a double-header beginning at 5:35 p.m. on Saturday. That is a make-up for an
April 16 rainout in Columbus.

The first game has an interesting pitching matchup. Danny Salazar (2-2, 3.86) is starting
for the Clippers against Greg Reynolds (10-0, 2.44). The second game is a TBD for both teams.
Carlos Carrasco is expected to pitch for Cleveland on Saturday.